Plate-trimming machine.



F. C. LEETHEM. PLATE TRIMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. I9!!- 1 ,21 9,566. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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F. C. LEETHEM.

PLATE TRIMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED rgov. I0. 1911.

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PLATE TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I0. 1911.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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F. C. LEETHEM.

PLATE TRIMIVHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1911.

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FRANK C. LEETHEM, OF MI DDLETGWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE TO LATHAM-LEETHEM COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLATE-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Application filed November 10, 1911.

To all whom itmag concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. Lnnrrimr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented cer tain ne and useful Improvements in Plate- Trinnning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to printing plate trimming machines of the type set forth in my Patent No. 1903.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a plate trimming machine of this class having improved means for forming the different kinds of edges on the printing plates or electrotypes, and the machine presents cutting mechanism. for operating on the upper edge of the plate to producethe regular edge, or for operating on the side of the edge, to produce an undercut notch, or groove for the hook.

Another object of the invention is to provide improve-d means for adjusting the bushings of the spindles which carr the cutters, to insure that the cutters will constantly maintain perfect alinement. with the table carrying the plate, and with respect to the systems of measurement or scales which constitute a feature of the machine.

Another object is to provide a gage for measuring accurately the depth of a plate which is being trimmed, and also to provide an improved scale, and means for marking the edge of the printing plate where it is to be trimmed or cut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting device by means of which the tools or cutters used in the cutter heads of the machine may be accurately set to their proper alinement, and gaged with a tool. 1

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an improved construction for the table gage which slides on the table to aline the edge of the printing plate remote from the cutters: and also to provide improved means for locking this gage to the table.

iinother object of the invention is to provide special means independent of the cutters. for removing the hard exterior shell of printing plates of certain kinds, so as to Specification of Letters Patent.

73'F251, granted August 25,

Patent-ed Mar. 20, 191.7.

Serial No. 659,542.

facilitate the action of the trimming cutters which finish the operation.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawing which fully illustrates my lllVQlltlOIl,

Figure l is a plan of the complete macnine, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. f is a longitudinal section taken on the axis of the horizontal. spindle, which carries the upper cutter head for trimming the upper side of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the saw mechanism for breaking through the hard shell of a printing plate in advance of the shaping cutters. This view is upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the marking tool and shoe which carries the same.

Fig. 7 a side elevation of the depth gage mechanism upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the table showing the table gage lock upon an enlarged scale, the middle portion being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the table gage and lock mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

10 is a view illustrating several different forms of printing plate edges which may be produced by this machine for the trimmed edges of the printing plate.

The machine comprises a main frame 1. in the form of a pedestal having asuitable base 2, and on the upper end of the pedestal parallel guidewavs 3 and 4: are formed. upon which a horizontal table 5 slides transverselv. Above the table a horizontal spindle 6 is mounted in suitable housings 7, and the projecting end of this spindle, which lies near the inner edge 8 of the table, is provided with a cutter head 9 in the form of a heavy disk having transverse slots 10. Fig. 3, on its forward face. in which the cutters 11 are mounted. The spindle 6 is provided with a pulley 12, enabling it to be driven by a belt.-

As shown in Fig. 1, the forward face of the cutter head 9 is in alinement with the table edge 8; I provide a special construction for insuring that this accurate aline ment will be maintained. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 4, to which reference is now had. The forward end of the spindle 6 is formed with an integral collar 13, which seats against the end of a bushing 14, which is mounted to slide in the box 15 of the inner housing 7. and on the outer end the box 15 is formed with a threaded extension 16, which is engaged by a nut 17, mounted. on the spindle adjacent to the pulley. This nut abuts against the end of the bushing 14: and when the nut is rotated will. adjust the bushing toward the collar and hold it against the collar. The rear end of the spindle 6 projects beyond the rear housing 7, and is provided with a fixed collar 18, which seats against a fixed bushing 19 in the rear housing. It there is any play or longitudinal movement developed from wear at the bushing 14, the collar 17 is rotated so as to take p this lost motion and bring the collar 13 against its seat or bushing 19. As the thrust developed by the cutter tools will be from the head 9 toward the rear, it will be seen that practically no wear will occur between the collar 18 and the bushing 19, so that by causing the bushing 14-. to keep the spindle in such a position that the collar 18 is seated, a perfeet alinement will be maintained.

Adjacent to the collar 18 the spindle 6 is provided with a pulley 20 for driving a saw 21. which is simply a circular cutter mounted on a shaft 22 which lies substantially parallel with the spindle 6, and carries a pulley 23 at its rear end, which enables it to be driven by a belt 94 from the aforesaid pulley 20.

The saw shaft 22 is mounted in a swing ing bracket 25, the rear end of which is snitably mounted on a stud 26, near the outer housing 7 near its free end the bracket is provided with an arm 27, Fig. 5, and slot 28, through which a. fixed clamping stud 29 passes. By loosening the nut of the stud 29, the bracket can be swung up and down so as to adjust the rotary cutter 21 to the position of the printing plate.

On the side of the housing 7 an adjust ng screw 30 is provided, the lower end =1? which strikes a seat 31 on the upper side of the bracket.

It will be seen that the rotary cutter 2.1 is inv aliiiement with the finishing or shaping cutters 11 of the horizontal cutter head 9, so that the saw or miller can break up the shell on the plate in advance of the cutters, and relieve them of this work. The wear on the shaping cutters is thus materially reduced.

I provide a table gage 32, which lies over the table, and the ends of this table gage are mounted on pivot bolts 33 on a suitable carriage 34;, which slides longitudinally on the table. On one edge the table is provided with scale preferably in the form of a rack 35, having square notches formed between square teeth, and the width of each tooth and each notch is preferably a pica, or some similar unit of a type-measuring system.

As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1, S, and 5), the carriage 34: at one side is formed with a slot 36, and in this slot are mounted two locking plates or looks 37, having a common pivot pin 38. These locks project beyond the side of the carriage and have short handles 39 on their remote ends for lifting them to release them from the rack. The adjacent faces of the locks abut against each other, as shown. Each of these locks or looking plates is of the same width as the notches of the rack; from this arrange ment, if the gage is in such a position that one oi? these locks will not drop into a notch, then the other one will; in other words, by men s of this racks the table gage may be adjusted to any integral number of units equal to the width of the notch of the rack. While I have described the notches and teeth of the racks as being picas, they evidently may be made halt picas, or any other dimension desired. The rack measures from the face of the cutter head 9, as Zero.

In order to lock the carriage 34 at any point, I provide a clamping screw 40', as shown. From an inspection of Fig. 8, it will be seen that the locks 37 tend to gravitate down into the notches.

The frame 1, opposite the spindle 6 is formed with transverse guideways 41, Figs. 1 and 2, upon which is mounted a cross-slide 42 which may slide toward or away from the spindle 6 and secured in any desired position by means of a locking bolt 43 running in a slot 14. The upper face of the cross-slide i2 forms a guideway 45, Fig. 2, for a gage slide 46, which latter slide is mounted to travel longitudinally and parallel with the axis of the spindle 6, that is, at right angles to the transverse traveling movement of the table. The forward end of the slide 4-6 is formed into a guide head 47, Fig. 1, for a vertical slide 48. On the lower end of the vertical slide 48 a. depth gage 4:9, Fig. 7, is pivotally attached. on a pivot pin. 51, said having arms which are pivoted to the slide and connected with. a straight edge or alining edge 50, the edge oi which normally lies near the table edge 8.

In order to raise the depth gage clear of the table, the slide 48 is provided with a horizontal slot 52, Fig. 3, which receives an eccentric 53 projecting in from the back of the guide 47, and adapted to be rotated by lever 5i, having a handle In the normal position of this vertical slide 48 the table gage is held at the proper height for making the necessary measurements.

The mechanism for measuring the thickness of a plate or trimmed edge by means of the depth gage comprises an arm 56, which is rigid with the pivot pin 51 and projects upwardly as shown. This arm engages with a pin 57, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which projects laterally from an upwardly extending arm 58, formed on a bar 59, sliding longitudinally on the slide 46 and lying in a groove (30 cut in the slide to receive it.

The rear end of the bar 59 is turned upwardly to form a foot 61, in which there is mounted a set screw 62, the end of which comes against the tail 63 of a needle 64, the point of said needle cooperating with a dial or graduated scale 65, attached on the upper side of the slide. A spring 66, attached to the needle tends to pull the needle toward the higher figures on the scale, but the wei ht of the depth gage 49 resting on the table normally holds this needle with the spring extended, and so that the needle is at zero 011 the scale. If the straight edge 50 is slightly elevated as when lying on a plate upon the table, the arm 56 moves rearwardly and permits a sliding movement ofthe bar 59, allowing the needle to take up and measure the amount of movement which has occurred.

In connection with the slide T6, I provide a marking device which comprises an offset arn 68, pivoted at 69 on a block 70, which is mounted to slide longitudinally in a guide 71 on the slide 46. An adjusting screw 2 for advancing and adjusting this block is provided with a micrometer scale 7 8, cooperating with a pointer 74, as shown. The inner or free end of arm 68 lies normally near the table edge 8 and is provided with a swivel block 7 5, mounted to rotate on a vertical stud 76, and provided with a pin 77, which may enter one of two recesses 78 and 79, Fig. 6.

On the forward end of. the block a shoe 80 is mounted on a horizontal pivot stud 81, and this shoe inclines downwardly and is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a handle 82. Near the handle 82, which is at the free end of the shoe, a marking tool or knife 83 is set in the shoe, and this tool constitutes a marker or scribe for marking a printing plate lying on the table. In order to hold the shoe slightly elevated to keep the scribe 88 normally off of the table, I provide the shoe with a leaf spring Sat, attached to a lug 85, as shown, and the free end of this spring normally rests on the table and holds up the shoe, as will be readily understood. The outer end of the shoe is provided with a stop screw 86, the lower end of which is adapted to strike the upper side of the spring when &

the shoe is forced down, and by adjusting this screw the shoe can be regulated nicely so as to allow the edge of the scribe tool 83 just in bearing engagement with the plate on the table.

The adjusting screw is provided with a micrometer head 87, cotiperating with a fixed post 88 from which the readings of the micrometer head may be taken.

The pin 77 may be pulled up and disenfrom the recess 78, so as to enable the shoe and block 75 to be swung around into a position at right angles to their nor mal position, and these parts can then be locked in this position by letting the pin 77 engage the recess 79.

In order to enable the slide 46 to be advanced or withdrawn when desired, the un der side thereof is provided with a longitudinal rack 89, Fig. 7, engaging a pinion 90 formed on a horizontal stem 91, which extends in from the side face of the crossslide 42. This stem 91 carries a rigid wheel V 92, having a scale 93, formed on the edge thereof, and cooperating with a fixed pointer 9%. When the scale 98 reads zero, the edge of the straight edge 50 should be in exact aline-inent with the table ec ge 8; and when the scale 93 reads zero and the micrometer screw 73 also reads zero, the scribe 83, Fig. 6, will also be in exact alinement with the table edge 8.

In Fig. 10, I illustrate the diiferent'forms of edge which canbe produced with this machine. The edge 95 is the regular or common beveled edge, and can be formed by means of the horizontal cutter head carried on the horizontal spindle. The edge 96 may also be formed with a horizontal cutter head. In producing an undercut edge, such as the edge 97, the vertical spindle 98 of the machine is used. This vertical spindle is mounted in suitable bearings 99, and the same construction is used in mounting this spindle as that illustrated in Fig. 4 for maintaining an accurate alinement of the vertical cutter head 100, Fig. 1, which is at tached to the upper end of the spindle.

The arrangement for setting the cutters 11 in the cutter head to their proper position, and for gaging these tools when being ground, will now be described, referring especially to Fig. 1.

At a suitable point on frame 1, I attach a bracket 101, the outer portion of which is formed into a post carrying a horizontal. arm or table 102. This table is formed with a transverse guideway 103, in which travels a slide 104-, said slide having transverse channels 105 to receive standard tools or gages 106, the points of which are complementary in form to the tools which form the difi'erent kinds of edges referred to above. These tools may be adjusted by a fixed adjusting screw 102*.

Opposite the slide 101, the table 102 is provided with an upwardly projecting; stud 107, which corresponds in form to the stud on the end of the spindle to which the cutter head is attached. The operation of setting the tool in the cutter head consists in removing the cutter head from the machine and applying: itin the position indicated by the cutter head 108; and the special tool 109 which is mounted in the cutter head is then slid forwardly in its ;roove so as to lie near the slide 101. in this connection it should be stated that the stud 107 has flat faces or similar means for alining the cutter head, so that the cutter grooves 10 in the head are exactly at right angles to the path of travel of the slide 104:.

The table 102 is provided with an up wardly extending arm 110, with an adjusting screw 111, the end of which abuts the rear end of the tool 109, so as to adjust it outwardly toward the slide. Before putting the cutter head in position as suggested, any one oi the tools may he brought into juxtaposition with too} 109 by moving the slide 104-, so that it will lie near the point of the tool 109. which is to be set or The tool 109 is then adjusted nicely to it, and it necessary ground to the proper form, and then secured by one of the clamping screws 112, which are mounted in the head as shown. lVhen gaged and set in this way the head. 108 is then placed in the machine, the cutter will then have the proper position, that is, it will project exactly the cor rect distance to trim the plate to dimension.

The table 5 is provided near the workino; edge 8 with a transverse slot 113, in which runs a clamp 114-, which clamp is employed for fastening: the printing plate or work securely on the table. This clamp may be of any construction desired.

When the marking tool 83 is parallel with the table edge 8, the plate slides under it as the table slides, and thus a line is marked parallel with the table edge.

By advancing slide 16 the m arlrinn; tool 83 may produce a line at right :1. es to the edge 8.

The mode of operation is substantially as follows: The carriage 3 1- is run out on the table 5 to any desired position and secured by means of the lock 37 in one of the notches oi the rack 35 and in this way the 39 can be given any desired position at its alininn edofe which rests on the table. The plate to be trimmed is laid on, the table 5 between the gage 32 and the 'e 50. and, by means of the gage or aliningr edge 50 and the scale 93, the width of the plate on the table may be measured. The plate is then clamped on the table 5 by means of the clamp 114; and properly alined by means of the 32 with any desired amount of overhang ot' the plate at the edge 8. The table is then moved back and forth on the guideways 3 and 1 while the cutter head 9 rotates. The cutters 11 will then trim the edge of the printing plate. The milling cutter 21 is set so that it gives the plate a rough cut and removes any roughness or scale on the edge of the plate.

The scale 65 enables the thickness or depth of the plate at its edge to be measured by means of the straight edge.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention set forth herein is only one of the many embodiments or forms the invention may take, and 1 do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention nor in my claims to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, table gage comprising a carriage mounted to slide longitndi nally of the table means for supporting the same, a rack at the side of the table and having notches tormed therein and teeth between said notches, and two locking plates mounted on said carriage adjacent to each other adapted to engage said notches respectively and independently of each other to lock said carriage on said table.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table having a rack on the side edge thereof. with notches and teeth between said notches, said notches and said teeth being the same in width, a carriage mounted to slide on said rack on said table. a sage mounted on said carriage, a pair of locking plates mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage said notches respectively. said plates being of the same width as said notches.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table. a carriage mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a gage mounted on said carriage, said carriage having a slot in the edge thereof, a pair of locking plates movably mounted in contact with each other in said slot, said table having a rack with notches and teeth between said notches, each of said locking: plates being equal to the width of one of said notches.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a. table, a slide, fixed means for guiding said slide horizontally toward and from said table, a gage carried by said slide adjacent to said table, and means on said slide for measuring the elevation of said gage above the face of said table.

5. In a machine of the class described. the combination of a table. a slide, fixed means for guiding said slide horizontally to advance over the edge of said table, a depth gage pivotally supported on said slide and constructed to swing down to engage Ill said table, and a measuring device carried by said slide for indicating the elevation of said gage above the upper surface of said table.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table, means for guiding the same to slide to and fro, a slide, means for guiding said slide to move in a horizontal direction toward and from said table in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said table, a depth gage pivotally supported on said table, and means on said slide for indicating the amount of upward movement of said gage when raised from said table.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and from said table, means for supporting said slide, a depth gage carried by said slide, a measuring device carried by said slide for indicating the elevation of said gage above the surface of said table, a marking device carried by said slide, and means for adjusting said markingdevice in the direction of advance of said slide.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and from said table, means for supporting said slide, a depth gage mounted on said slide, and lying adjacent to the surface of said table, means for raising and lowering the said depth gage, and a measuring device mounted on said slide for indicating the movement of said gage.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and from the same, means for supporting said slide, a pivot on said slide, a depth gage mounted to swing on said pivot, and lying near the surface of said table, means for raising and lowering said pivot, an indicator mounted on said slide, said slide having a scale cooperating with said indicator, and means for actuating said indicator controlled by the movements of said gage.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the same, means for supporting said slide, said slide having a guide at the end thereof adjacent to said table, a vertically movable slide mounted in said guide, a gage pivotally supported on said vertical slide, means for raising and lowering said vertical slide, and means for measuring the elevation of said gage above said table.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the same and having a vertical guide adjacent to said table, means for supporting said slide, a vertical slide movable in said vertical guide, a depth gage pivotally supported on said vertical slide, means for raising and lowering said vertical slide, an indicator mounted on said first slide, an arm rigid with said gage, and a member mounted on said first slide for controlling said indicator from said arm. 7

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, .a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from said table, means for supporting said slide, an arm pivotally mounted on said slide, and having its free end lying near said table, a marking tool having a handle for moving the same supported on said arm and pivotally mounted so as to swing down to a position adj acent to said table.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from said table, means for supporting said slide, an arm pivotally mounted on said slide, and having its free end lying near said table, a marking tool having a handle for moving the same supported on said arm and adapted to swing down to a position adjacent to said table, and means for normally holding said marking tool out of contact with said table.

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the same, a gage carried by the said slide and cooperating with said table, an arm carried by said slide and projecting to a point near said table, a marking tool having a handle for moving the same supported on said arm, and having a swinging movement thereon in a vertical plane and horizontal plane.

15. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the same, means for supporting said slide, a gage carried by said slide, an arm supported on said slide and projecting to a point near said table, a shoe carrying a marker adapted to swing down toward said table, and a swivel support for said shoe enabling said shoe to swing on a vertical axis on said arm.

16. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, an arm adapted to project out to a point adjacent to said table, means for supporting and adjusting said arm toward and away from said table, a gage cooperating with said table, and a marking tool carried by said arm alined with said gage.

17. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a table, a slide mounted to move toward and away from the same, means for supporting said slide, a gage sup ported on said slide, an arm pivotally supported on said slide, means for adjusting said arm longitudinally of said slide, and a marking tool carried by said arm' alined with said gage.

18. A marking device to cooperate with a table, having an arm supported so as to extend over the table, a shoe carried by said arin ino'vahle in a plane fixed with respect to said arin, toward the table, a spring in connection with said shoe constructed to engage and slide freely on the surface of the table, and a marking tool carried by said shoe normally held out of contact with the table by said spring.

19. A marking device to cooperate with a table comprising an arm extending out over the table, a block mounted to swivel on said arm, a shoe pivotally mounted on said block and mounted so as to swing down toward the table, a spring carried by said shoe to en- 15 FRANK G. LEETHEM.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. TorrINe, A. W. Panama.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, Ii. 0. 

